Visits Planet Earth/Interstellar Low Ways

by Sun Ra

Overview

Sun Ra Visits Planet Earth/Interstellar Low Ways is a great pairing of two classic Saturn LPs from the Chicago period. Sun Ra Visits Planet Earth was recorded in two sessions, one in late 1956 and the other in 1958. The first four tracks (from the 1956 sessions) are firmly grounded in bop and swing. The next three tracks are from the 1958 session, and find the Arkestra creating a more personal sound, with prominent tympani and elements of dissonance beginning to enter the picture. By the time of the 1960 sessions for Interstellar Low Ways, there was no one else in the Arkestra's league. Not only have the bandmembers picked up such instruments as the Solar Bells, Solar Drum, and Space Lute (!), but Space Chants like "Interplanetary Music" and "Rocket Number Nine Take Off for the Planet Venus" are being performed and recorded. Sun Ra Visits Planet Earth/Interstellar Low Ways shows the rapid development of the Arkestra during the Chicago years, and serves as an excellent summary of that period. ~ Sean Westergaard

Product Details

Release Date:	11/20/1992
Label:	Evidence
UPC:	0730182203929
Rank:	133288

Tracks

1. Reflections in Blue
2. Two Tones
3. El Viktor
4. Saturn
5. Planet Earth
6. Eve
7. Overtones of China
8. Onward
9. Somewhere in Space
10. Interplanetary Music
11. Interstellar Low Ways
12. Space Loneliness
13. Space Aura
14. Rocket Number Nine

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sun Ra   Primary Artist,Gong,Bells,Piano,Chimes,Percussion,Piano (Electric),Spiral Percussion Gong
John Gilmore   Bells,Drums,Tambourine,Sax (Tenor)
Marshall Allen   Flute,Sax (Alto)
Arthur Hoyle   Trumpet
Phil Cohran   Trumpet
Dave Young   Trumpet
Victor Sproles   Bass
Julian Priester   Trombone,Sax (Alto),Sax (Baritone)
Ronnie Boykins   Bass,Gong
William "Bugs" Cochran   Drums
Nate Pryor   Trombone
James Herndon   Timpani,Timbales
Lucious Randolph   Trumpet
Edward Skinner   Drums,Percussion
George Hudson   Trumpet
Jim Herndon   Timpani,Timbales,Sound Effects
David Young   Trumpet
Robert Barry   Drums
Pat Patrick   Lute,Bells,Drums,Flute,Claves,Sax (Alto),Sax (Baritone)
Charles Davis   Sax (Baritone)
James Spaulding   Sax (Alto)

Technical Credits

Jerry Gordon   Producer,Reissue Producer
Roger Seibel   Pre-Mastering
Sun Ra   Composer,Photography
Thomas "Bugs" Hunter   Photography
Thomas Vilot   Art Direction
Juli Hittner Vitello   Art Direction
John B. Litweiler   Liner Notes
Pat Patrick   Composer
Charles Davis   Composer
Alton Abraham   Producer